Fourteen Honolulu Fire Department and federal firefighting companies were battling a brush fire today in 'Ewa that forced the closure of Iroquois Road.

Gusting winds were blowing the 10: 14 .M. fire toward an area with new houses but was not posing an immediate threat.

Man re-booked in fatal beating

A 41-year-old man has been booked for second-degree murder in connection with the beating death of another man Jan. 28 at Ke'ehi Boat Harbor.

Attorney John Edmunds, who represents John Herman Fritsch, said the administration re-booking process stems from amended charges against his client.

Richard Carl Lamb, 49, died Feb. 12 at The Queen's Medical Center, 15 days after being beaten. Fritsch was indicted before Lamb's death for attempted murder and was awaiting trial on that count.

Firefighter stable after 100-foot fall

A 41-year-old Big Island firefighter who fell 100 feet into a lava tube during a search-and-rescue mission Wednesday remains in critical but stable condition today at The Queen's Medical Center, Hawai'i County Fire Chief Darryl Olivira said.

Relatives of Fire Rescue Specialist Brent Matsuda told Olivira today that Matsuda is "improving steadily."

2 Kailua men linked to escapees

Two Kailua men, ages 23 and 19, arrested at a Keolu Hills residence yesterday were booked for first-degree hindering prosecution on suspicion that they provided a means of transportation to escapees from the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility on Aug. 31.

The men were booked and later released without charges pending further investigation.

Hilo prisoner still at large

Gary Castro, who escaped from Kulani Correctional Facility in Hilo on Tuesday, is still at large, Big Island police said today.

Castro, 38, was discovered missing at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Hundreds ticketed in seat-belt sweep

Big Island police issued 344 citations for vehicular seat-belt violations during a recent "Click It or Ticket" campaign from Aug, 24 to Sept. 8 in Kona, Hilo and Puna. Police also issued 205 citations for other violations and made five arrests while conducting the seat-belt use operation.